Tag: Hipnotic Earth

Out Now! Various Artists – The Home Diaries

We’re delighted to get back to making CDs again after our break over December. It was good to have some down time and to do some planning too but it’s wonderful to be back, with our exciting schedule for 2021.
We’d like to thank all of those who supported us over this period, getting involved with our winter sale. Our stock cupboard is looking lighter and at last there is some space in the drawer for this year’s release schedule!

First up is the double-album Home Diaries compilation, which includes a track from each of the 30 Home Diaries releases from last year. For those unfamiliar, Home Diaries was an invitation to artists to write a record about their situation in lockdown. It was a digital only series, put together to keep our label going after we had to stop releasing CDs.

We know that many prefer a physical edition and so we wanted to create something so that those who do are able to experience this series in some way. So we decided to go all out on the packaging for this one. There is a standard double gatefold edition as well as an ultra deluxe edition, in which the double gatefold CD is contained within a gold foil-printed matchbox, which also includes a booklet which contains a photo of each artist’s home.

There were only around 65 copies of the ultra deluxe to sell after artist allocations, and these have sold out already having been snapped up quickly by our subscribers. However, at the time of writing we have around 50 copies of the standard double album edition, which we feel is still quite a spectacle in itself. It’s complete with the cover artwork, which is an oil painting by Adrian Lane who re-imagined the original series cover.

Our low-run releases will be made available suddenly without official release dates, meaning they’re likely to sell out fast. The best way to keep informed is to join our mailing list which can be located through our website menu or you can click HERE

press release
“It’s fair to say that the events of the year 2020 will go down as quite a year and may form a large part of the history curriculum for the children of tomorrow. The pandemic is of course just part of the story, against a backdrop of political unrest, climate change and injustice too.

Whitelabrecs was affected with the closure of our local post office, meaning we were unable to ship our CDs. We also felt we had a duty not to hold up a queue of people and decided to stop production of our catalog. During that time, to make sure we still had a label left to return to, we launched the ambitious Home Diaries series. It ran for 3 months and in that relatively short space of time, the series reached 30 releases!

Home Diaries was an invitation to artists and musicians to create an album or EP to document their personal experience during the lockdown or social distancing conditions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. The series reflects a range of sounds, styles and ideas, as each artist portrayed their own reflections uniquely, available as a digital only edition including a bonus interview and photos.
Each of the 30 digital editions in the Home Diaries series is an individual work of art, created to share the varying experiences felt by each artist.

This compilation album pulls together a track from each record, sequenced in a way that flows as a specially curated environment, over the course of two CDs. We have two versions available as follows:

A standard edition, which is a double-disc gatefold vinyl-effect CDr album, featuring a re-interpretation of the original cover artwork, painted by Adrian Lane.

A deluxe matchbox edition, in which the double-disc gatefold vinyl-effect CDr is housed inside a gold foil-etched box, which also contains a booklet which includes a photo from each artist’s home during lockdown. This version serves as a time capsule into the original series; a keepsake which is limited to just 70 copies.

If you opt for the digital version, this also includes the photo booklet as a bonus PDF item.“

credits
Released January 23, 2021

Painting and artwork by Adrian Lane
Booklet images provided by each respective artist
Packaging layout by Harry Towell
Compilation curated by Harry Towell

All tracks mastered by James Edward Armstrong, except:
12 ‘Out In The Open’ Mastered by John Hannon
17 ‘Distance Learning’ Mastered by Michael Southard
29 -‘Stanze e Distanze (part 2)’ Mastered by Francis M. Gri

Home Diaries 022: Hipnotic Earth

We’ve taken a pause from our schedule of CD albums due to our local post office closing, following the outbreak of Covid19. We launched a digital series called Home Diaries, in which we’ll release EPs and albums by an international line-up of artists, with the music created during lockdown and social distancing conditions.

The series reflects a range of sounds, styles and ideas, as each artist portrays their own reflections uniquely. Each release is digital only for now, as we hope to raise what we can to help keep our label ticking over at this time. The releases feature a recurring polaroid image of a small lonely house, with a coloured filter chosen by the artist for each respective release.

We’re pleased to welcome back Hipnotic Earth to our label after Cosmos Rennert, the artist, had contributed the CD album ‘Suspended In Silence‘ last year. He prefers not to use the term lockdown and has been positive over the period of the pandemic, despite its obvious restrictions. He has been growing his own vegetables and engaging in a communal howling with his neighbours (both people and other creatures) at 8:00pm each night.

We have an exciting line-up to follow and each release will include bonus PDF liner notes, which has an interview with the artist on how they made the album, what their situation is like, what they have planned, their influences and what equipment/techniques they used.  There are also additional photos provided by the artist as part of the PDF too. Click on the link below to check it out:

-LABEL LINK-
https://whitelabrecs.bandcamp.com/album/home-diaries-022

-ARTIST LINK-
https://hipnoticearth.bandcamp.com/album/home-diaries

press release
“Home Diaries is an invitation to artists and musicians to create an album or EP to document their personal experience during the lockdown or social distancing conditions that are upon us, due to the coronavirus outbreak. The series reflects a range of sounds, styles and ideas, as each artist portrays their own reflections uniquely. Each release is digital only for now, as we hope to raise what we can to help keep our label ticking over at this time. The releases feature a recurring polaroid image of a small lonely house, with a coloured filter chosen by the artist for each respective release. We interview each artist and this is included as a bonus PDF with the download. You can also check out the Home Diaries series on Spotify if you prefer, which will be available to stream in due course.

We’re pleased to welcome back Hipnotic Earth to our label after Cosmos Rennert, the artist, had contributed the CD album ‘Suspended In Silence’ last year. He prefers not to use the term lockdown and has been positive over the period of the pandemic, despite its obvious restrictions. He has been growing his own vegetables and engaging in a communal howling with his neighbours (both people and other creatures) at 8:00pm each night.

Cosmos’ Home Diaries edition follows a series of live video performances, in which he used the pressure of the live situation to focus on the need for an immediate accuracy to his work and he has retained the realism of these sessions, by leaving the compositions largely unedited in this short album. Field recordings from his previous homes as well as the nightly howls are included, amongst other captured moments. In this work, you’ll find a restful space awaits you, as delicate piano notes adorn a bed of deep ambient drones.”

credits
Written and produced by Cosmos Rennert
Mastered by James Edward Armstrong
Artwork by Harry Towell

Out Now! Various Artists – Sleeplaboratory2.0

2019 was a truly landmark year for us, with our new gatefold-LP packaging style being so well received, not to mention all of the support and great feedback we received from fans and the press alike. We started the year with a special compilation album themed on sleep; Sleeplaboratory1.0. We’re delighted to launch a new decade and exciting times ahead with the follow-up to this series, Sleeplaboratory2.0. We’ve been working behind the scenes on this one since last summer and we’re proud of the results in an album which features established artists within the scene, alongside label familiar favourites.

Sleeplaboratory2.0 was released to subscribers of our mailing list last weekend and unfortunately these have now sold out already! You can still stream the album on Bandcamp and of course, grab a digital version by clicking the link below or image above. To avoid missing out on future releases, you can join our mailing list HERE

https://whitelabrecs.bandcamp.com/album/sleeplaboratory20

press release
“Sleeplaboratory is a compilation series that we launched in 2019 and the success of this effectively launched our printed gatefold-LP style CDrs which featured all of last year. The Sleeplaboratory1/.0 compilation was created as a special celebration for our fiftieth release and we enjoyed the concept so much, that we decided to run another one. Sleeplaboratory2.0 continues the themes of sleep, rest and personal reflection, not necessarily aiming to meet the current trend of mindfulness and well-being but instead, it intends to rest the listener in a way that is appropriate to them.

The idea was originally came about after our label owner Harry and his wife had a baby daughter, Isla. Harry curated a full-length compilation to help soothe his daughter to sleep and whilst Isla hasn’t needed much of a helping hand where sleep is concerned, he was keen to continue this project as a series. Throughout much of last year, we have been working on a follow-up, inviting artists to meet this sleepy brief of minimalist Ambient tones. We’ve invited familiar label artists back as well as established names and perhaps you’ll see that the odd one or two go on to have releases with us later this year.

Over the 16 tracks, a serene and enveloping environment is established. The physical product is as usual presented across four printed panels and this time, artwork is provided by Harry’s wife Beth in an image taken on a family day out. As usual, we will not make any recommendation on how our listeners might best enjoy this record and so it’s down to you to choose the best environment to listen, whether this be late at night with headphones, on a loud system or perhaps played through Bluetooth speakers in and around your home.”

credits
Curated by Harry Towell
Mastered by James Edward Armstrong
Cover Photography by Bethany Towell
Packaging design by Harry Towell

Coming soon…Various Artists – Sleeplaboratory2.0


2019 was a truly landmark year for us, with our new gatefold-LP packaging style being so well received, not to mention all of the support and great feedback we received from fans and the press alike. We started the year with a special compilation album themed on sleep; Sleeplaboratory1.0. We’re delighted to launch a new decade and exciting times ahead with the follow-up to this series, Sleeplaboratory2.0. We’ve been working behind the scenes on this one since last summer and we’re proud of the results in an album which features established artists within the scene, alongside label familiar favourites. The album will be released officially on Saturday the 25th of January but if you join our mailing list using the link below, we’ll make sure you’re the first to hear.

Whitelabrecs low-run releases will be made available suddenly without official release dates, meaning they’re likely to sell out fast. The best way to keep informed is to join our mailing list which can be located through our website menu or you can click HERE

press release
“Sleeplaboratory is a compilation series that we launched in 2019 and the success of this effectively launched our printed gatefold-LP style CDrs which featured all of last year. The Sleeplaboratory1/.0 compilation was created as a special celebration for our fiftieth release and we enjoyed the concept so much, that we decided to run another one. Sleeplaboratory2.0 continues the themes of sleep, rest and personal reflection, not necessarily aiming to meet the current trend of mindfulness and well-being but instead, it intends to rest the listener in a way that is appropriate to them.

The idea was originally came about after our label owner Harry and his wife had a baby daughter, Isla. Harry curated a full-length compilation to help soothe his daughter to sleep and whilst Isla hasn’t needed much of a helping hand where sleep is concerned, he was keen to continue this project as a series. Throughout much of last year, we have been working on a follow-up, inviting artists to meet this sleepy brief of minimalist Ambient tones. We’ve invited familiar label artists back as well as established names and perhaps you’ll see that the odd one or two go on to have releases with us later this year.

Over the 16 tracks, a serene and enveloping environment is established. The physical product is as usual presented across four printed panels and this time, artwork is provided by Harry’s wife Beth in an image taken on a family day out. As usual, we will not make any recommendation on how our listeners might best enjoy this record and so it’s down to you to choose the best environment to listen, whether this be late at night with headphones, on a loud system or perhaps played through Bluetooth speakers in and around your home.”

credits
Curated by Harry Towell
Mastered by James Edward Armstrong
Cover Photography by Bethany Towell
Packaging design by Harry Towell

End of 2019 Winter Sale – 15% Off

2019 is just about finished, with just a few weeks left to run. We have decided not to run any releases in December and draw a bit of breath ahead of what will surely be another exciting year in 2020.

We decided that a good way to close out this landmark year for us, in which we increased our run count of 100 copies of every release, each in a premium gatefold-LP style vinyl-effect CDr packaging, was to run a winter sale!
So until midnight on the 31st of December 2019, you can enjoy an extra 15% off all of our catalog, both physical and digital.

Simply enter the following code into the discount box provided when you check out to enjoy a 15% reduction on all items:

CODE: anextra15
LINK: https://whitelabrecs.bandcamp.com/merch

If you’re in a rush or new to the label and not sure where to start, please see below for a run down of all our releases!

Various Artists “Sleeplaboratory1.0”
January | Sold Out

We kicked off both 2019 and our new Sleeplaboratory compilation series. The album is themed around sleep as we strive to make this series a snoozy, lulling listen. It begins with a piece from Janek Schaefer and includes work by other renowned artists such as Darkroom, Maps and Diagrams, M. Grig and Tropic of Coldness as well as Whitelabrecs favourites such as Sven Laux, Valotihkuu, Anthéne and Ben Rath. It sold out in no time so there are no CDrs left however, you can check it out digitally here:


Glåsbird “Grønland”
February | Sold Out

Our new-look gatefold LP style packaging did so well for our compilation release, that we decided that all of our albums would run in this way for 2019. The first artist in this year’s discography was a debut for Glåsbird and things went a bit nuts! All CDrs were gobbled up in no time and you can’t even locate these on Discogs; you can check it out a digital copy here:

Jens Pauly “Vihne”
March | Sold Out

In March we welcomed aboard Cologne, Germany based artist Jens Pauly with Vihne. The packaging was designed entirely by the artist and the music is a tapestry of electro-acoustics. When we first heard Jens’ sound we knew it was going to be something special and sure enough, it’s sold out at source now. You can listen or purchase a digital copy here:

anthéne “asymmetry”
April | Sold Out

In April Canadian artist Brad Deschamps as anthéne joined aboard with asymmetry, an album which features the photography of Peter Nejedly. The record is a collection of beautiful drones, from an industrious artist who has worked on other labels such as Archives and Home Normal this year. With so much great output this year, it’s easy to see why this one’s sold out. You can stream or purchase a digital copy here:

Ben Rath “Any Given Moment”
April | Available

For the first time in April we decided to run with two albums in a calendar month. We welcomed back British artist Ben Rath who had previously released with us as Slow Heart Music. ‘Any Given Moment’ covers warm, acoustic ground via the use of a guitar and drones. A few copies are still available as well as a digital copy which you can check out here:

Hipnotic Earth “Suspended In Silence”
May | 12 Copies Remaining

In May we moved towards the warmer months with a delicate and beautiful album by Hipnotic Earth, a project by Cosmos Rennert. Suspended In Silence is presented as an electro-acoustic record centred around what appears to be prepared piano sounds, bird song and light synth decorations. The last few copies are available at the time of writing and a digital version too, which you can check out here:

Samsuo “The Other Gold Side”
May | Available

Towards the end of May we released the debut album by Cambridge artist Samsuo. Entitled ‘The Other Gold Side’, this Ambient/Drone record saw us welcome back Peter Nejedly on photography duty and the rotating ceramic dish which features across the four panels suitably reflects the looping, spherical drones created by this artist. There are some copies left at the time of writing as well as a digital version too, which you can check out here:

Sven Laux “ODD”
June | 16 Copies Remaining

After the success of Sven Laux’s ‘Schachmatt’ which we released in 2018, we were delighted to welcome Sven back with his follow-up album, ‘ODD’. Whilst Schachmatt was an album steeped in modern composition, ODD adapted this with a slightly more contemporary electronic feel in places. We’re down to the last 16 copies at the time of writing and you can also stream or download a digital version, which you can check out here:

Old Amica “Taiga”
June | Available

We were excited to welcome aboard Swedish duo Old Amica, who split their discography between folk-tinged post rock and cinematic Ambient. For us, they turned in a beautiful instrumental album featuring piano, guitar and synth and stunning artwork, arranged by the artists’ friend J. M Almqvist. We’ve still got some copies left as it stands and you can also check out their video and a digital version here:

Logic Moon “I See Planets”
July | 12 Copies Remaining

We returned to deep drone with this one by Logic Moon in some of the sleepiest music we’ve released to date. Tobias Lorsbach, the man behind the project created an album with a retro-futuristic theme and we decided to splash out on talented collage artist Thom Easton to provide the artwork. Just a few copies remind and you can check them out, as well as the usual stream/digital versions here:

Spring Quintet “Raven, Raven, Raven”
July | Available

We chopped back to modern classical with this one, with a live performance by Montreal’s Stefan Christoff and several other musicians being handed to Italian sound artist Matteo Uggeri to assist with post production. The result is a playful electro-acoustic piece with several movements across half an hour, complete with artwork by painter Chris Day. Some copies are still around in our shop, which you can buy or stream a digital version here:

Glåsbird “Svalbarð”
August | Sold Out

Somehow after a debut album, Glåsbird manages to follow it up with a second album in a year. The first album was a sonic expedition to Greenland and in August, the trip continued to the Arctic isles of Svalbard. Just like the last one, this album was gobbled up quickly by our listeners and is unavailable physically. You can stream or buy a digital version here, however:

Emanuele Errante “This World”
August | Available

We were really excited to release ‘This World’ by Naples, Italy based artist Emanuele Errante, whose work we’d admired for years. Emanuele teamed up with Peppe Trotta of So What magazine for the cover artwork and also invited guest musicians Bruno Sanfilippo and Max Fuschetto to feature in this magical electro-acoustic recording. Copies are available still at the time of writing or you can stream/buy a digital version here:

xu “embodying formlessness”
September | Available

In a hat-trick of releases by Italian artists for 2019, we welcomed back Nicola Fornasari who had collaborated for the La Petite Vague release which we put out in 2016. This one’s a lovely minimal album of toy ukulele and careful sound design that rewards repeated listening. You can still grab a copy at the moment or stream/buy a digital version here:

Gray Acres “Material Forces”
October | Sold Out

Not due to the talent of the Tasselmyer brothers and a helping hand from Bandcamp’s ‘Best of Ambient’ feature, this album by Gray Acres sold out in a flash. It’s a wonderful collection of tactile drones with far-flung field recordings, mastered by Ian Hawgood. There are no physical versions left but you can stream it or own a digital version here:

Jazzdefector and Slow Clinic “Green Echo”
October | Available

We’re always really pleased to see our artists return with another demo but when two came along at once and as a collaboration, we were particularly excited! ‘Green Echo’ combines moody guitar Ambience by Jazzdefector with the sound design expertise of Slow Clinic across 6 tracks. There are some CDrs left or you may prefer to stream or own a digital version:

Luis Miehlich “Timecuts”
November | Available

Silences by Luis Miehlich was simply one of our favourite records from 2018. So we were delighted when his demo ‘Timecuts’ came in and over time, Luis arranged remixes by the likes of Gallery Six, Erder, SineRider and our very own Glåsbird to complete the package. The album flits between Ambient/Drone, Electro Acoustic and Modern Classical and the remixes carefully compliment the originals as every bit a part of the album experience. Some physical copies are available or if you prefer, you can stream or own a digital version by clicking here:

Jack Hyde “Lowlands”
November | Available

Last but not least, we closed out this busy year with our 18th release, courtesy of Jack Hyde. Lowlands is a debut album from this Edinburgh, UK based artist and it covers Ambient, Dub and Field Recording territory in a careful, fascinating record. We have physical copies available as well as the option to stream or download here:

Out Now! Hipnotic Earth

Next up on Whitelabrecs, we welcome California, United States based artist Hipnotic Earth with a beautiful Electro-Acoustic ambient album which includes a wealth of delicate textures including instrument sounds, synth drones, prepared-piano style creaks and birdsong as well as a careful use of silence. The album is fittingly titled ‘Suspended In Silence‘ and is mastered by Ambient legend Robert Rich. This will be available in our new look gatefold-LP style CD packaging for 2019, featuring coastal photography provided by Cosmos Rennert, the man who records as Hipnotic Earth. We’ll release this on or around the 11th of May 2019. Those who follow artists such as Nils Frahm, Polaroid Notes or Valotihkuu should enjoy this!

Suspended In Silence is available now after having been released to subscribers of our mailing list last weekend, who had the first opportunity to grab a copy. These have been going well but we still have a few left and you can buy one of these or grab a digital copy by clicking the link or image above. To avoid missing out on future releases, you can join our mailing list HERE

https://whitelabrecs.bandcamp.com/album/suspended-in-silence

press release
“Hipnotic Earth is an electro-acoustic ambient soundscape project birthed from a deep need for quiet, slow motion music; from a carnal urge toward silence. California, USA based artist Cosmos Rennert’s project began dramatically when in 2015 the scheduled release of his debut album ‘Essence’ was missed when his home in the hot springs of Harbin, Northern California burned down in a sudden wildfire which swept the community. His home, studio, possessions, work place and the tiny town in which he lived succumbed to the flames. He is now deeply grateful to be able to continue recording and we’re pleased to present, a record which sees a departure from Cosmos’ usual style of sleepy drones.

‘Suspended In Silence’ is the second in a series of three completed albums presenting a new, more melodic direction. Continuing with spacious, evocative and immersive drone-based tonalities, the vast majority of these pieces are one-off improvisations that were recorded during the mornings of mid-2018 in the wine country of California. Here there is a love for not remembering how a song is made. The modus operandi is quite spontaneous, be it the recording process or sound design and mixing of additional colours afterwards. Simply in
the moment with no agenda, this music strives for eternal endings and slow rotations around an axis of serenity. During the recording of these tracks birds and other creatures would sometimes meander into the apple orchard where the studio is located. They seemed to
be drawn to the music as if they wanted to be on the album and occasionally, their wish was granted!

Previously steeped in a tradition of dance music, tribal drumming and Jazz, Cosmos has a long love affair with live looping as a tool for both rhythmic and textural inspiration. What was once a style using mad-scientist dub controllers that strove to be improvisational with emphasis on listening and responding to the other musicians in the mix, has now
evolved into deeply meditative washes of relaxed balmy soundscapes for tired ears. For this newer calming sound of Hipnotic Earth, loopers are used only occasionally as a source of experimentation. The technique of modulating the feedback amount so as to sculpt the looped material as it fades and evolves over time yields surprising
results. A love for the silent spaces in music has always been important to this artist; the breathing and resting and stretching of phrases is a lesson learned from Miles Davis’ music as well as from so many great ambient artists.”

credits
Written and produced by Cosmos Rennert
Mastered by Robert Rich
Photography by Cosmos Rennert
Packaging design by Harry Towell

Coming soon…Hipnotic Earth – Suspended In Silence

Next up on Whitelabrecs, we welcome California, United States based artist Hipnotic Earth with a beautiful Electro-Acoustic ambient album which includes a wealth of delicate textures including instrument sounds, synth drones, prepared-piano style creaks and birdsong as well as a careful use of silence. The album is fittingly titled ‘Suspended In Silence‘ and is mastered by Ambient legend Robert Rich. This will be available in our new look gatefold-LP style CD packaging for 2019, in a run of 100 copies, featuring coastal photography provided by Cosmos Rennert, the man who records as Hipnotic Earth. We’ll release this on or around the 11th of May 2019. Those who follow artists such as Nils Frahm, Polaroid Notes or Valotihkuu should enjoy this!

Whitelabrecs low-run releases will be made available suddenly without official release dates, meaning they’re likely to sell out fast. The best way to keep informed is to join our mailing list which can be located through our website menu or you can click HERE

press release
“Hipnotic Earth is an electro-acoustic ambient soundscape project birthed from a deep need for quiet, slow motion music; from a carnal urge toward silence. California, USA based artist Cosmos Rennert’s project began dramatically when in 2015 the scheduled release of his debut album ‘Essence’ was missed when his home in the hot springs of Harbin, Northern California burned down in a sudden wildfire which swept the community. His home, studio, possessions, work place and the tiny town in which he lived succumbed to the flames. He is now deeply grateful to be able to continue recording and we’re pleased to present, a record which sees a departure from Cosmos’ usual style of sleepy drones.

‘Suspended In Silence’ is the second in a series of three completed albums presenting a new, more melodic direction. Continuing with spacious, evocative and immersive drone-based tonalities, the vast majority of these pieces are one-off improvisations that were recorded during the mornings of mid-2018 in the wine country of California. Here there is a love for not remembering how a song is made. The modus operandi is quite spontaneous, be it the recording process or sound design and mixing of additional colours afterwards. Simply in
the moment with no agenda, this music strives for eternal endings and slow rotations around an axis of serenity. During the recording of these tracks birds and other creatures would sometimes meander into the apple orchard where the studio is located. They seemed to
be drawn to the music as if they wanted to be on the album and occasionally, their wish was granted!

Previously steeped in a tradition of dance music, tribal drumming and Jazz, Cosmos has a long love affair with live looping as a tool for both rhythmic and textural inspiration. What was once a style using mad-scientist dub controllers that strove to be improvisational with emphasis on listening and responding to the other musicians in the mix, has now
evolved into deeply meditative washes of relaxed balmy soundscapes for tired ears. For this newer calming sound of Hipnotic Earth, loopers are used only occasionally as a source of experimentation. The technique of modulating the feedback amount so as to sculpt the looped material as it fades and evolves over time yields surprising
results. A love for the silent spaces in music has always been important to this artist; the breathing and resting and stretching of phrases is a lesson learned from Miles Davis’ music as well as from so many great ambient artists”

credits
Written and produced by Cosmos Rennert
Mastered by Robert Rich
Photography by Cosmos Rennert
Packaging design by Harry Towell